‘Unemployment not all that bad’

Acknowledging that there has been a sustained and gradual increase in unemployment in Trinidad and Tobago in recent months, she said, “From the last quarter in 2015, unemployment would have increased from 3.5 percent to about four percent in 2015.” On poverty, she said, “it did not start in 2015. It has been increasing over the last 10 years.” Crichlow-Cockburn spoke yesterday in the House of Representatives during the debate on Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh’s motion calling on the House to condemn Government for failing to deal with the country’s current unemployment challenges. Despite the economic downturn and Government operating within stringent economic times, she said, “our unemployment rate is still not considered high by international standards.

It is below five percent which is considered the natural rate of unemployment.” At those remarks UNC MP Barry Padarath heckled Crichlow- Cockburn and Speaker Brigid Annisette-George asked him to, “Take your tea break now and return later.” Shortly after, Annisette-George distracted by Finance Minister Colm Imbert, asked him to leave the Parliament Chamber as well.